Rob Aickin


During a behind-the-scenes career that lasted less than five years, Rob Aickin cemented his place in the top league of New Zealand record producers, responsible for multiple gold-selling singles and gold and platinum albums as New Zealand rock came of age.

Employed as in-house producer at Stebbing Recording Studios from 1977 to 1981, Aickin produced landmark albums for Hello Sailor, Golden Harvest and Th’ Dudes as well as career-defining releases for country singers Patsy Riggir and Toni Williams. He was awarded the record industry’s producer of the year award in 1978 for his work on Hello Sailor.

Patsy Riggir and producer Rob Aickin at Stebbing Recording Studios in the early 1980s
Hello Sailor's debut album from 1977, produced by Rob Aickin. Cover design by Peter Adams, internal band photos by Eldred Stebbing’s son Vaughan.
Zodiac Heritage Series,Volume 25: Songs in the Life of Key. Stebbing’s Jervois Road studio in its 70s heyday: Th’ Dudes, Headband, the Totals, Hello Sailor, Jacqui Fitzgerald, and Golden Harvest. Plus, a curiosity: Southern soul from visiting US singer Kim Tolliver.
Rob Aickin.
Photo credit: Rob Aickin collection
Th' Dudes - Where Are The Boys (Key, 1980)
Rob Aickin (right) with former Bee Gees guitarist Vince Melouney.
Photo credit: Rob Aickin collection
Th' Dudes - Right First Time (Key, 1979), produced by Rob Aickin.
Dave Dobbyn's first solo single Bull By The Horns, 1981. Produced by Rob Aickin and Ian Morris, it was the first time the name DD Smash appeared.
Rob Aickin.
Photo credit: Rob Aickin collection
Rob Aickin's home studio.
Photo credit: Rob Aickin collection
Patsy Riggir - Are You Lonely (1982), produced by Rob Aickin.
Rob Aickin and Hello Sailor with gold records at Stebbing Recording Studio. Eldred Stebbing is on the left with Festival Records staff Graeme Pethig (sales manager), Ray Porter (managing director), Hello Sailor manager David Gapes and Festival's Ted Money. On the right are Festival's Tony Smith and Jac Klutz.
Photo credit: Rob Aickin collection
Th' Dudes - Be Mine Tonight (Key, 1979)
Patsy Riggir - Lay Down Beside Me (1981), produced by Rob Aickin.
Ron Brown, Rob Aickin and Gaye Brown, circa 1968
Photo credit: Grant Gillanders Collection
Patsy Riggir with engineer Tony Moan (left) and producer Rob Aickin at Stebbing Recording Studios in the early 1980s
Photo credit: Grant Gillanders Collection
Harry Lyon and Rob Aickin.
Photo credit: Rob Aickin collection
Patsy Riggir and producer Rob Aickin at Stebbing Recording Studios in the early 1980s.
Toni Williams - The One I Sing My Love Songs To (Interfusion/ Festival, 1977 - producer Rob Aickin, engineer Ian Morris).
The local newspaper has a story about local lad Rob Aickin, the "base player" from The Clevedonaires heading off to Vietman to entertain the troops in 1968. The shows were cancelled when the war intensified.
Rob Aickin (right) with former Cleves/Bitch bandmate Ron Brown.
Photo credit: Rob Aickin collection
The Clevedonaires in 1967 on the We Three Show, filmed in the Shortland St Studios in Auckland. Graham Brown (front), Rob Aickin, Ron Brown and Gaye Brown.
Photo credit: Grant Gillanders Collection
Rob Aickin and Hello Sailor with gold records at Stebbing Recording Studio. Hello Sailor manager David Gapes is at left; Festival Records managing director Ray Porter is at right.
Photo credit: Rob Aickin collection
Rob Aickin's gold records and awards.
Photo credit: Rob Aickin collection
The Clevedonaires in early 1967: Ron Brown, Gaye Brown, Graham Brown and Rob Aickin
Rob Aickin receiving a gold disc from Festival Records' Managing Director Ray Porter.
Photo credit: Rob Aickin collection
Festival Records' Managing Director Ray Porter, Rob Aickin, Toni Williams and Festival A&R man Kevin Williams.
Photo credit: Rob Aickin collection
Ian Morris and Rob Aickin recording the debut Hello Sailor album at Stebbing Studios, 6 June, 1977
Photo credit: Simon Grigg collection
Zodiac Heritage Series, Volume 30: Lipstick Power. Highlights the first solo recordings from Dave Dobbyn, after hours in Stebbing's with producer Rob Aickin and Ian Morris. A celebration of Rob Aickin's later productions, Lipstick Power also features Broken Dolls ('Joie De Vivie'), rock'n'roll revivalists The Teddy Boys, and vocal group Southern Transit.
Th' Dudes celebrate at the 1978 record awards. From left: Lez White, Peter Urlich, Bruce Hambling, Charley Gray, Rob Aickin, Ian Morris, and Dave Dobbyn. 
Photo credit: Jocelyn Carlin
The Cleves in Australia where they had signed to Festival Records Infinity label. L to r: Graham Brown, Rob Aickin, Gaye Brown and Ron Brown.
Photo credit: Grant Gillanders Collection
Rob Aickin (right) with former Bee Gees guitarist Vince Melouney, Townsville, 2012. Melouney once toured with the Cleves when Gaye Brown was unwell.
Photo credit: Rob Aickin collection
Bitch in the UK around 1971: Ace Follington, Ron Brown, Rob Aickin with Gaye Brown in the front.
Rob Aickin.
Photo credit: Rob Aickin collection
Bitch - Wild Cat (1972)
Dave McArtney and Harry Lyon with producer Rob Aickin (standing) and manager David Gapes. Stebbing Recording Studios 1977/78
Photo credit: Photo by Murray Cammick
Golden Harvest (Key, 1978), produced by Rob Aickin.
The 16-track master sheet for the 1977 self-titled Hello Sailor debut LP in Rob Aickin and Ian Morris's handwriting.
Photo credit: Rob Aickin collection
Labels:

Impact


Infinity


WEA


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Trivia:

Rob Aickin’s surname is often misspelt “Aicken”.

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